Helvetian Republic 1802-B 5 batzen
This specimen was lot 5720 in Sincona Auction 102 (Zürich, October 2025), where it sold for 1,000 CHF (about US$1,507 including buyers' fees). The catalog description[1] noted,
"SCHWEIZ. Helvetische Republik. 5 Batzen 1802 B, Bern. Schräg geriffelter Rand. Sehr seltener Jahrgang. Gutes sehr schön. (Switzerland, Helvetic Republic, five batzen of 1802, Bern mint. Obliquely reeded edge, Very rare date, Good Very Fine.)"
This type was struck at Solothurn in 1799 and at Bern 1799-1802. Forty batzen made a thaler. The Helvetian Republic was a puppet state set up by the French in 1798 on the remnants of the old Swiss Confederation. It collapsed in 1803 under religious and class conflict and Napoleon reorganized it as the Swiss confederation, restoring the liberties of the old cantons.
Recorded mintage: unknown but the key date.
Specification: 4.6 g, 0.868 fine silver, 24 mm diameter, this specimen 4.42 g.
Catalog reference: KM A9, D.T. 8d, HMZ 2-1188e.
- Divo, Jean-Paul, and Edwin Tobler, Die Münzen der Schweiz, im 19. und 20. Jahrhundert, Zürich: Bank Leu & Co AG, 1969.
- Michael, Thomas, and Tracy L. Schmidt, Standard Catalog of World Coins, 1801-1900, 9th ed., Iola, WI: Krause Publications, 2019.
- Richter, Jürg, and Ruedi Kunzmann, Neuer HMZ-Katalog, Band 2: Die Münzen der Schweiz und Liechtensteins 15//16. Jahrhundert bis Gegenwart, Regenstauf, Germany: H. Gietl Verlag GmbH, 2006.
- [1]Richter, Jurg, SINCONA Auction 102: The Konrad Bürki Collection - Part 4 (Swiss Cantonal Coins), Zurich: SINCONA AG, 2025.
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